Deployable center console

ABSTRACT

A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/633,462 filed on Oct. 2, 2012. The entire disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to storage consoles and more particularlyto a reconfigurable storage console for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Minivans and sport-utility vehicles typically include passengercompartments that provide ample seating positions and large cargo areas.Further, such passenger compartments are often reconfigurable toselectively permit an increase/decrease in the number of seatinglocations, repositioning of the seating locations, and/or anincrease/decrease in the size of the cargo area of the vehicle.

For example, minivans may include second-row seat assemblies andthird-row seat assemblies that may be moved from a stowed position to ause position to tailor the passenger compartment of the minivan to theparticular needs of the user. As such, should the user requireadditional storage to accommodate large or bulky items, one or both ofthe seat assemblies may be moved into the stowed position to increasethe cargo area of the vehicle. Conversely, should the user requireadditional seating locations, each of the seat assemblies may be movedinto the use position to accommodate each passenger.

Moving the seat assemblies from the use position to the stowed positiontypically involves moving seats of the particular seat assembly into awell formed in a floor pan of the vehicle to increase the cargo area ofthe vehicle and/or to allow access to rearward seating locations. Inminivan applications, second-row seat assemblies typically include apair of separately movable seats that are received within individualwells formed in the floor pan. The individual wells are typicallyrequired, as a single well extending width-wise across the vehicle isnot possible due to an upwardly extending “tunnel” formed in the floorpan that accommodates a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle.

While individual wells adequately receive the second-row seats in thestowed position, the area between the second-row seats and above thetunnel is not utilized. The area above the well is simply used as a loadfloor to store cargo when the second-row seats are in the stowedposition and is used as a passageway to gain access to the third-rowseat assembly when the second-row seats are in the use position.

SUMMARY

A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housingmovable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing mayinclude a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of thevehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in theupright position.

In another configuration, a vehicle is provided and may include a floorpan defining a vehicle floor, a first seat assembly supported by thefloor pan, a second seat assembly supported by the floor pan, and astorage console disposed between the first seat assembly and the secondseat assembly. The storage console may include a housing movable betweena stowed position and an upright position. The housing may include a topsurface that is substantially flush with the vehicle floor when thehousing is in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the vehiclefloor when the housing is in the upright position.

Further areas of applicability of the teachings of the presentdisclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claimsand the drawings provided hereinafter, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like features throughout the several views of the drawings. Itshould be understood that the detailed description, including disclosedembodiments and drawings referenced therein, are merely exemplary innature intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intendedto limit the scope of the present disclosure, its application or uses.Thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the presentdisclosure are intended to be within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial top view of a vehicle incorporating a storageconsole in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 2 takenalong line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle and storage console ofFIG. 1 a taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in a partial upright position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 5 takenalong line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in a partial upright position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 7 takenalong line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in an upright position;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 9 takenalong line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingan armrest of the storage console in a use state;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 11taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in an upright position and an armrest in an open anduse position;

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showingthe storage console in an upright position; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the storage console of FIG. 14taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, a storage console 10 for a vehicle 12 isprovided. The storage console 10 may include a housing 14 that ismovable from a stowed position (FIGS. 2 and 3) to an upright position(FIGS. 9 and 10) to configure a passenger compartment 16 of the vehicle12 to fit the needs of the particular user. For example, the housing 14may be moved into the stowed position to allow the housing 14 to act asa load floor of the vehicle 12. Conversely, the housing 14 may bepositioned in the upright position to allow the housing 14 to storelarge or bulky items, as will be described in detail below.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the vehicle 12 is shown toinclude a floor pan 18 supporting a driver's seat 20, a passenger seat22, and a pair of second-row seats 24. The floor pan 18 may extendsubstantially across the passenger compartment 16 and may provide thepassenger compartment 16 with a load floor 26 and a tunnel 28 (FIG. 4).The load floor 26 may cover the passenger compartment 16 and may serveas the floor of the vehicle 12. Accordingly, the load floor 26 mayinclude a load surface 30 that supports people and cargo during use ofthe vehicle 12.

The tunnel 28 may extend along a longitudinal axis 32 (FIG. 1) of thevehicle 12 to accommodate various components of a drive train (noneshown) of the vehicle 12. The tunnel 28 may be formed by the floor pan18 and may extend in a direction toward the load surface 30 of the loadfloor 26. In so doing, the tunnel 28 forms a pair of wells 34 (FIG. 4)into which the second-row seats 24 may be positioned when the second-rowseats 24 are moved from a use position (FIG. 1) to a stowed position(FIG. 4).

In operation, the second-row seats 24 may be positioned in an uprightand use position (FIG. 1) to allow the seats 24 to accommodatepassengers. The second-row seats 24 may be moved from the use positionto the stowed position (FIG. 4) by folding the seats 24 into therespective wells 34 formed by the floor pan 18 such that the seats 24are disposed on opposite sides of the tunnel 28. Positioning thesecond-row seats 24 in the respective wells 34 moves the seats 24 intothe stowed position and provides the passenger compartment 16 withadditional cargo space.

When one or both of the second-row seats 24 are moved from the useposition to the stowed position, a panel 36 may be positioned over eachwell 34 to conceal the seat 24 disposed therein. The panel 36 may bealigned with the load floor 26 of the vehicle 12 such that a loadsurface 38 of the panel 36 is substantially flush with the load surface30 of the load floor 26. As such, when one or both of the second-rowseats 24 are disposed within respective wells 34 of the floor pan 18 andthe panels 36 are placed over the wells 34, the load surface 38 of eachpanel 36 may cooperate with the load surface 30 of the load floor 26 toprovide the passenger compartment 16 with a substantially flat floor onwhich to store cargo.

The storage console 10 may be disposed between the second-row seats 24and may cooperate with the load floor 26 and the panels 36 to providethe passenger compartment 16 with a substantially flat floor when thestorage console 10 is in the stowed position (FIGS. 2-4). The storageconsole 10 may include a support bracket 40 extending along a length ofthe storage console 10 and an armrest 42. The support bracket 40 maysupport the housing 14 when the housing 14 is in the stowed position andwhen the housing 14 is in the upright position.

The support bracket 40 may include a base 44 that is fixedly attached tothe floor pan 18 at the tunnel 28 and a pair of arms 46. The base 44 maybe attached to the tunnel 28 via a fastener and/or via a structuraladhesive, for example. The arms 46 may be integrally formed with thesupport bracket 40 and may be disposed on opposite sides of the tunnel28 to define a first opening 48 and a second opening 50. The openings48, 50 may be formed between the base 44 and the arms 46 and may receivea portion of the housing 14 therein when the housing 14 is in the stowedposition.

The support bracket 40 may additionally include a first wall 52, asecond wall 54, and a third wall 56 extending between and formedsubstantially perpendicular to sidewalls 58 of the support bracket 40.Each of the walls 52, 54, 56, and 58 may extend from the support bracket40 in a direction away from the tunnel 28 and may be formedsubstantially perpendicular to a bottom surface 60 of the supportbracket 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

When the support bracket 40 is installed in the floor pan 18 of thevehicle 12, a portion of the base 44 is disposed on opposite sides ofthe tunnel 28 such that the arms 46 are likewise disposed on oppositesides of the tunnel 28. As such, the first opening 48 and the secondopening 50 are disposed on opposite sides of the tunnel 28 toaccommodate the housing 14 when the housing 14 is in the stowedposition. Further, when the support bracket 40 is attached to the floorpan 18, the walls 52, 54, 56, 58 extend in a direction generally awayfrom the tunnel 28 and toward the load floor 26. While the walls 52, 54,56, 58 extend away from the tunnel 28 and toward the load floor 26, thewalls 52, 54, 56, 58 may not extend past the load surface 30 of the loadfloor 26 to provide a first storage area 62 and a second storage area 64that are each disposed beneath the load surface 30. As such, the firststorage area 62 and the second storage area 64 are each positioned lowerthan the load floor 26 and are defined generally between the housing 14and the bottom surface 60 of the support bracket 40.

The housing 14 may include a top panel 66, a rear panel 68, a forwardpanel 70, and a pair of sidewalls 72. The top panel 66 may include afirst opening 74 and a second opening 76 that respectively allow accessto the first storage area 62 and the second storage area 64 when thehousing 14 is in the stowed position (FIG. 3) and allow access to thefirst storage area 62 when the housing 14 is in the upright position(FIG. 10). The first opening 74 may include an access door 78 movablebetween a closed state preventing access to the first storage area 62and an open state permitting access to the first storage area 62.Likewise, the second opening 76 may include an access door 80 movablebetween a closed state restricting access to the second storage area 64and an open state permitting access to the second storage area 64.

As described, when the access doors 78, 80 are in the closed state andthe housing 14 is in the stowed position (FIG. 3), access to the firststorage area 62 via the first opening 74 and access to the secondstorage area 64 via the second opening 76 is restricted. Access to thefirst storage area 62 and access to the second storage area 64 may beachieved by moving the respective access doors 78, 80 into the openstate. When the housing 14 is moved from the stowed position to theupright position, access to the first storage area 62 is permitted wheneither or both of the access doors 78, 80 are in the open state topermit access via one or both of the first opening 74 and the secondopening 76.

The rear panel 68 may be pivotably attached to the top panel 66 at afirst end 82 and may be pivotably attached to the load floor 26 at asecond end 84 to permit movement of the housing 14 between the stowedposition and the upright position. The rear panel 68 may include ahandle 86 that allows a force to be applied to the rear panel 68 and,thus, to the top panel 66 and forward panel 70 to move the housing 14from the stowed position (FIG. 3) to the upright position (FIG. 10).

The forward panel 70 may be positioned at an opposite end of the toppanel 66 than the rear panel 68 and may be slideably attached to the toppanel 66 at a wall 88 of the forward panel 70. Allowing the wall 88 ofthe forward panel 70 to be slideably attached to the top panel 66 allowsthe forward panel 70 to move in the (X) direction (FIGS. 6, 8, 10) asthe housing 14 is moved from the stowed position to the uprightposition, as will be described in greater detail below.

The wall 88 may be integrally formed with a top wall 90 having anopening 92. The opening 92 may include an access door 94 that is movablefrom an open state to a closed state to provide selective access throughthe opening 92 when the housing 14 is moved from the stowed position tothe upright position. Namely, when the housing 14 is moved into theupright position, access to the second storage area 64 may be obtainedvia the opening 92 when the access door 94 is moved from the closedstate to the open state (FIG. 15).

When the housing 14 is in the stowed position, the forward panel 70 maybe supported by an extension 96 of the support bracket 40. Specifically,a distal end 98 of the wall 88 of the forward panel 70 may be in contactwith the extension 96 of the support bracket 40 and may be receivedwithin a channel 100 of the extension 96 to define a stop that properlypositions the forward panel 70 relative to the support bracket 40 whenthe housing 14 is in the stowed position. Likewise, a distal end 102 ofthe top wall 90 may likewise be in contact with the support bracket 40to support the top wall 90 and wall 88 when the housing 14 is in thestowed position.

The sidewalls 72 may each include a fixed wall 104 and a movable wall106 pivotably attached to the fixed wall 104. The fixed wall 104 mayadditionally include a trim component 108 fixed for movement with thewall 104 that provides a class “A” surface for the housing 14 when thehousing 14 is in the upright position. While the fixed wall 104 isdescribed and shown as including a trim component 108, the class “A”surface provided by the trim component 108 could alternatively beprovided by an outer surface 110 of the fixed wall 104, therebyobviating the need for the trim panel 108.

In one configuration, the movable walls 106 are pivotably attached to anend 112 of the respective fixed walls 104 to allow the movable walls 106to pivot about and relative to the ends 112 of the fixed walls 104.Allowing the movable walls 106 to pivot relative to the fixed wall 104allows the housing 14 to be moved from the upright position to thestowed position, as the movable walls 106 account for the tunnel 28.Namely, as the housing 14 is moved from the upright position to thestowed position, the sidewalls 72 are respectively received within thefirst opening 48 and the second opening 50 of the support bracket 40.Because the first opening 48 and the second opening 50 are formedbetween the support bracket 40 and the arms 46 and, further, because thesupport bracket 40 and the arms 46 follow the contour of the tunnel 28,the movable walls 106 must move away from one another to allow thesidewalls 72 to be received within the first opening 48 and the secondopening 50 when the housing 14 is moved into the stowed position (FIG.4). In other words, the movable walls 106 move in opposite directionsand away from one another to account for the increasing width of thetunnel 28 in the (Y) direction (FIG. 4).

When the housing 14 is moved from the stowed position to the uprightposition, the movable walls 106 are once again permitted to pivot aboutthe ends 112 of the fixed walls 104 and move toward one another to allowthe housing 14 to be moved from the stowed position to the uprightposition. Once the housing 14 is sufficiently moved from the stowedposition to the upright position, the movable walls 106 may be fixedrelative to the fixed walls 104 to provide the housing 14 with sidewalls72 that support the housing 14 when the in the upright position.

The armrest 42 may be slideably supported by the housing 14 and may bemoved from a stowed position (FIG. 3) to a use position (FIGS. 11 and12) when the housing 14 is moved from the stowed position to the useposition. When the housing 14 is in the stowed position, the armrest 42may be disposed between the top wall 90 of the forward panel 70 and anarmrest 114 associated with the driver's seat 20 and the passenger seat22. Namely, the armrest 42 may be received within a compartment 116(FIG. 6) defined generally between the top wall 90 of the forward panel70 and the armrest 114 disposed between the driver's seat 20 and thepassenger seat 22.

When the housing 14 is moved from the stowed position (FIG. 3) to theuse position (FIG. 10), the forward panel 70 and, thus, the top wall 90,move in the (X) direction (FIG. 8), thereby causing the armrest 42 tolikewise move in the (X) direction. Upon sufficient movement of theforward panel 70 and armrest 42 in the (X) direction, sufficientclearance exists between the top wall 90 and the armrest 114 to allowthe armrest 42 to be moved relative to the housing 14 and into the useposition (FIG. 12), as will be described in greater detail below.

With reference to the figures, operation of the storage console 10 willbe described in detail. When the housing 14 is in the stowed position(FIG. 3), access to the first storage area 62 may be achieved via thefirst opening 74 by moving the access door 78 from the closed state tothe open state. Likewise, access to the second storage area 64 may beachieved via the second opening 76 by moving the access door 80 from theclosed state to the open state. When the housing 14 is in the stowedposition, access to the armrest 42 is prohibited by the forward panel70, as the armrest 42 is disposed generally within the armrest 114between the armrest 114 and the top wall 90. In short, the armrest 42 ishidden from view by the forward panel 70 when the housing 14 is in thestowed position.

When the housing 14 is in the stowed position, an outer surface 118 ofthe rear panel 68 and an outer surface 120 of the top panel 66 may besubstantially flush with the load surfaces 38 of the panels 36.Likewise, an outer surface 122 of the access door 78 and an outersurface 124 of the access door 80 may likewise be substantially flushwith the outer surfaces 118, 120 and the load surfaces 38. As such, thehousing 114—via the top panel 66, the rear panel 68, the access door 78,and the access door 80—may cooperate with the load surfaces 38 of thepanels 36 to provide the passenger compartment 16 with a substantiallyflat load floor when the housing 14 is in the stowed position.

A force may be applied to the housing 14 at the handle 86 to move thehousing 14 from the stowed position (FIG. 3) to the upright position.The force applied to the handle 86 may be in the (W) direction (FIG. 6)to concurrently move the housing 14 in the (X) direction and the (Z)direction. When the housing 14 is moved in the (X) direction and the (Z)direction, the top panel 66 and the rear panel 68 are likewise moved inthe (X, Z) directions. Further, engagement between the top panel 66 andthe forward panel 70 causes the forward panel 70 to move in the (X)direction, as the top panel 66 exerts a force on the forward panel 70 inthe (X) direction. As the top panel 66 moves in the (X, Z) directions,the top panel 70 continues to apply a force on the forward panel 70 inthe (X) direction while concurrently moving relative to and along theforward panel 70 in the (Z) direction. Specifically, the top panel 66slides along the forward panel 70 at a junction of the top panel 66 andthe forward panel 70 as the top panel 66 moves in the (X, Z) directions.

With particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the housing 14 is shownapproximately between the stowed position and the upright position. Atthis point, the force applied to the handle 86 is maintained to continuemovement of the top panel 66 and the rear panel 68 in the (X, Z)directions. Such movement of the top panel 66 and the rear panel 68likewise causes the forward panel 70 to move in the (X) direction which,in turn, causes the armrest 42 to move in the (X) direction.

With particular reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the housing 14 is shown inthe upright position with the distal end 98 of the forward panel 70 incontact with the second wall 54 of the support bracket 40 to allow thesecond wall 54 to support the forward panel 70 when the housing 14 is inthe upright position. At this point, the armrest 42 is exposed (FIG. 9)and is bounded by sidewalls 126 associated with the forward panel 70. Inthis position, the armrest 42 may be moved from a position opposite thetop wall 90 to a position above the access door 78 (FIGS. 11 and 12).When the armrest 42 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12such that the armrest 42 is positioned above the access door 78, thearmrest 42 may be positioned between the second-row seats 24 to allowaccess to the armrest 42 by occupants seated in the second row seats 24.

The armrest 42 may include a projection 128 that opposes and is incontact with a projection 130 of the top panel 66 when the armrest 42 isdisposed above the access door 78. Engagement between the projection 128and the projection 130 serves to support the armrest 42 when the armrest42 is positioned above the access door 78. The armrest 42 may be movedfrom the position opposite the top wall 90 to the position shown in FIG.12 by sliding the armrest 42 along the housing 14 until the armrest 42contacts the top panel 66 at the projection 130. Specifically, thearmrest 42 may be slideably received within a track 132 (FIG. 4) of thehousing 14 to allow the armrest 42 to move relative to and along thehousing 14 in a direction along the longitudinal axis 32 of the vehicle12. The track 132 may facilitate movement of the armrest 42 between theposition shown in FIG. 6 and the position shown in FIG. 12.

The armrest 42 may include a storage area 134 and a lid or cover 136.The lid 136 may be moved from a closed state shown in FIG. 12 torestrict access to the storage area 134 to an open state shown in FIG.13 to provide access to the storage area 134.

When the armrest 42 is in the position shown in FIG. 12, the access door94 is exposed. As such, the access door 94 may be moved from a closedstate (FIGS. 11, 12) to an open state (FIGS. 14 and 15) to allow accessto the second storage area 64. Access to the first storage area 62 maybe achieved via the second opening 76 by moving the access door 80 fromthe closed state to the open state, but is not accessible via the firstopening 74, as the access door 78 associated with the first opening 74is covered by the armrest 42.

As described, cargo may be stored in the first storage area 62 and thesecond storage area 64 when the housing 14 is in the upright position.Further, cargo may likewise be stored in the storage area 134 of thearmrest 42. In addition to the foregoing, items or other cargo may bestored below the armrest 114 in an area 138 (FIG. 12) when the armrest42 is in the position shown in FIG. 12. While items may be stored withinthe compartment 138 when the armrest 42 is in the position shown in FIG.12, any items stored within the compartment 138 must be removed prior tomovement of the armrest 42 back into the compartment 138.

The housing 14 may be moved from the upright position to the stowedposition by applying a force on the handle 86. The force applied to thehandle 86 may disengage the movable walls 106 to allow the movable walls106 to pivot relative to the fixed walls 104. Applying a force on thehandle 86 in a direction opposite to the (W) direction causes themovable walls 106 to move away from one another (FIG. 4) to allow thefixed walls 104 and the movable walls 106 to be received within thefirst opening 48 and the second opening 50.

Movement of the housing 14 from the upright position to the stowedposition is only possible when the armrest 42 is first positionedbetween the sidewalls 126 such that the armrest 42 opposes the top wall90. At this point, a force may be applied to the handle 86 opposite tothe (W) direction to move the housing 14 concurrently in a directionopposite to the (X) direction and in a direction opposite to the (Z)direction. Sufficient movement of the housing 14 in a direction oppositeto the (X) direction and in a direction opposite to the (Z) directioncauses the top panel 66 to move the forward panel 70 into thecompartment 138 of the armrest 114 and, as a result, causes the toppanel 116 to move along the forward panel 70 toward the distal end 98 ofthe forward panel 70.

When the top panel 66 is in contact with the second wall 54 such thatthe second wall 54 supports the top panel 66 (FIG. 3) and the top panel66 is disposed proximate to the distal end 98 of the forward panel 70,the housing 14 is returned to the stowed position and remains in thestowed position until a force is once again applied to the handle 86 inthe (W) direction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage console for a vehicle having a floor,the storage console comprising: a housing movable from a stowed positiondisposed beneath the floor to an upright position extending from thefloor and defining a first storage area in said stowed position, saidhousing including side walls that expand a size of said first storagearea when said housing is moved into said upright position; and an armrest slidably slidably attached to said housing that is movable from anarmrest stowed position to a use position when said housing is in saidupright position and is not movable from the armrest stowed position tothe use position when the housing in said stowed position.
 2. Thestorage console of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a forward panelwherein the armrest is a first armrest and when the first armrest is inthe armrest stowed position the first armrest is disposed between theforward panel and a second armrest disposed between a driver's seat anda passenger seat of the vehicle and the forward panel blocks the firstarmrest from moving to the use position when the housing is in thestowed position.
 3. The storage console of claim 1 wherein the housingincludes a track in which the armrest is slidably received and in whichthe armrest can move relative to the housing in a direction along alongitudinal axis of the vehicle.
 4. The storage console of claim 3wherein the armrest includes a projection that when the armrest is inthe use position opposes and is contact with a projection of a top panelof the housing to support the armrest.
 5. The storage console of claim 1wherein when the armrest is in the use position it is disposed over arear portion of the housing and between second-row seats of the vehicle,the housing further including a top wall that is substantially flushwith the floor when said housing in said stowed position and is spacedapart from the floor when said housing is in said upright position, thetop wall including first and second access doors each operable betweenan open state permitting access to the first storage area when thehousing is in the upright position and a closed state restricting accessto the first storage area, the second access door disposed rearwardly ofthe first access door, the second access door covered by the armrestwhen the armrest is in the use position preventing the second accessdoor from being moved to the open state and the first access door is notcovered by the armrest when the armrest is in the use position.
 6. Thestorage console of claim 5, wherein access to said first storage area ispermitted via said second access door when said second access door is insaid open state and said housing is in either of said stowed position orsaid upright position.
 7. The storage console of claim 6 wherein accessto said first storage area is permitted via said first access door whensaid first access door is in said open state and said housing is in saidupright position.
 8. The storage console of claim 7 further including asecond storage area disposed forwardly of the first storage area whereinaccess to said second storage area is permitted via said first accessdoor when said first access door is in said open state and said housingis in said stowed position.
 9. The storage console of claim 8 whereinthe housing includes a front panel having a wall slidably attached tothe top panel, the wall of the front panel including an third accessdoor movable between an open state and closed state when the housing isin said upright position wherein access to said second storage area ispermitted via the third access door when said third access door is insaid open state and said housing is in said upright position.
 10. Avehicle comprising: a floor pan defining a floor; a first seat assemblysupported by said floor; a second seat assembly supported by said floor;and a housing movable from a stowed position disposed beneath the floorto an upright position extending from the floor and defining a firststorage area in said stowed position, said housing including side wallsthat expand a size of said first storage area when said housing is movedinto said upright position; and an armrest slidably attached to saidhousing that is movable from an armrest stowed position to a useposition when said housing is in said upright position and is notmovable from the armrest stowed position to the use position when thehousing in said stowed position.
 11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein thehousing includes a forward panel and the armrest is a first armrestwherein when the first armrest is in the armrest stowed position thefirst armrest is disposed between the forward panel and second armrestdisposed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle andthe forward panel blocks the first armrest from moving to the useposition when the housing is in the stowed position.
 12. The vehicle ofclaim 10 wherein the housing includes a track in which the armrest isslidably received and in which the armrest can move relative to thehousing in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
 13. Thevehicle of claim 12 wherein the armrest includes a projection that whenthe armrest is in the use position opposes and is contact with aprojection of a top panel of the housing to support the armrest.
 14. Thevehicle of claim 10 wherein when the armrest is in the use position itis disposed over a rear portion of the housing and between second-rowseats of the vehicle, the housing further including a top wall that issubstantially flush with the floor when said housing in said stowedposition and is spaced apart from the floor when said housing is in saidupright position, the top wall including first and second access doorseach operable between an open state permitting access to the firststorage area when the housing is in the upright position and a closedstate restricting access to the first storage area, the second accessdoor disposed rearwardly of the first access door, the second accessdoor covered by the armrest when the armrest is in the use positionpreventing the second access door from being moved to the open state andthe first access door is not covered by the armrest when the armrest isin the use position.
 15. The storage console of claim 14, wherein accessto said first storage area is permitted via said second access door whensaid second access door is in said open state and said housing is ineither of said stowed position or said upright position.
 16. The storageconsole of claim 15 wherein access to said first storage area ispermitted via said first access door when said first access door is insaid open state and said housing is in said upright position.
 17. Thevehicle of claim 16 further including a second storage area disposedforwardly of the first storage area wherein access to said secondstorage area is permitted via said first access door when said firstaccess door is in said open state and said housing is in said stowedposition.
 18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the housing includes afront panel having a wall slidably attached to the top panel, the wallof the front panel including an third access door movable between anopen state and closed state when the housing is in said upright positionwherein access to said second storage area is permitted via the thirdaccess door when said third access door is in said open state and saidhousing is in said upright position.